What aspects of your cultural heritage are you most proud of or interested in?
“It is a fine thing to die for one’s fatherland, but a still finer thing to live for it.” (Hungarian Proverb)
Jet Pack Prompt- 9/28/23
I am proud of my Hungarian ethnic heritage on my mother’s side. So I am highly motivated to engage in candid conversation with Hungarian families at our local synagogue whose descendants suffered so severely during those Anti – Semitic times of Nazi occupation in their home country during World War II. Given those many years of Russian occupation after the crushed Hungarian revolution of 1956, I am also interested in how cultural matters in this country today help retain the people’s well earned freedom path and further resist Communist rule. Sadly, modern day Hungary again suffers further repressions during the current regime of Nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban. For his autocratic leadership to date closely aligns with that of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
I might also clarify that Hungary’s latest fight for freedom of speech, press, and the right of assembly appears to be manifested in the form of a new cultural revolution. Know then I regret that our upcoming travels will not include a Hungary visit whereby I might personally observe such elements of cultural protest. Yet I will pay savvy attention to Hungarian music, art, and theatrical performance on “You Tube” and other forms of media in the coming months in hope that such systematic change does occur. I invite you to take look for yourself at Hungary’s current cultural crisis with respect to the suppression of artistic freedoms in the video below.
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I think it was in the news last year that ministers from EU member states held yet another hearing with the Hungarian government to discuss its continuing rule of law failures. It’s horrifying to think that there are countries in Europe where discrimination against LGBTI and Roma people still persists. Where women’s sexual and reproductive rights suffer significant rollback. Where teachers are denied the right to strike. Or where pushbacks of refugees and migrants continue in violation of EU law.
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Thanks for the Hungarian information. Enjoy the fall.
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